Q&A: Empty Stadiums, Digital skills & Collectibles

Transcriptions done by robots in Descript app (they are getting better but not yet perfect)

Question one comes from Grace van der Merwe I hope I'm saying your name right. Grace grace has asked this on the Sports Business Zoom Call.  If there are no spectators in stadiums, what ways do you think broadcasting could improve the viewing experience and atmosphere for TV? Knowing that it was strange atmosphere in the first round of the AFL season with no spectators in fan. So yes. This part of the world in Australia, we've had a, the AFL have a round of games without fans. And we've also had the NRL with a round of fans around without fans. And most likely we're going to head to that, in the very near future as we start seeing this return to sport. some of the things we did discuss and have discussed, and some of the things that I have seen, we have heard, piping of sound, into stadiums and, as, as really as a way for almost a give a benefit for the players, but then also create a bit more atmosphere on the broadcast. there is talk, of CGI, but, knowing how much CGI costs and the way to implemented, it will be very, very difficult. I do love, this was out of Germany, the cardboard cutouts. a fans, I know if I was allowed, I would be buying a cardboard cutout. to put myself in, in the my seat where I'm meant to be. so I think there's potential for that. We have seen robotic mannequins. I think it was in Japan. I think there will be some things done in the, the broadcast to improve the viewing experience. I think it's going to be tough. I think we'll see the, broadcasters, producers tighten the shots to try to reduce, the empty shots. but I do think the sound and the volume is something that. They're going to work on. but like all of us, everyone is looking for, I guess differences. And I think there will be some tech. play in that space, whether it's us calling out, accessing it via phones, yelling, maybe there's some way to pipe in the, the content or even something like a, think it was Manchester United that did, back in the days of Google plus, had fans engaging in, jumping up and down, through led. And we saw something similar to that with the NFL draft, with the fans sort of cheering behind Roger Goodall every time he was making a pick. So maybe there are some things like that. but it's not going to be the same, but we're going to find out what, is sort of how we get through it. and the broadcasters will most likely do things to try to engage the lounge room more than trying to, amping up the, amping up the stadium ambience. So I guess, I think after this break and not having sport, I think fans will be just happy to see the best players out there playing again. and we'll probably put to the side, I guess the stadium piece. And then other thing to add, and it's more on the commentary of what's happening potentially happening in NBA, they might not do it in the biggest of stadiums. There is talk that the NBA will be played in smaller stadiums, which will allow for different type of, crowd shot. but if everyone, and I think everyone is listening, this is probably a lot watching the Last Dance, we were all quite happy to be watching, the dream team, footage out of, Monte-Carlo, which is, you know, over, over 20 years old. We're almost 30 years old now. like, you know, I think just being able to watch sports will be, enough. But I'm looking forward to seeing what the broadcasters do and how digital can sort of play a part. So thanks for the question, Grace. They actually come along to the Sports Business zoom calls.